Police official under fire for claiming: ‘If you can’t prevent rape, you might as well enjoy it’

A top police official has come under fire for declaring: ‘If you can’t prevent rape, you might as well enjoy it.’

Ranjit Sinha, the chief of India’s top investigation agency, made the controversial remark during a meeting about illegal sports betting.

Trying to suggest gambling should be legalised, Mr Sinha said: ‘If you cannot enforce the ban on betting, it is like saying “if you can’t prevent rape, you enjoy it”.’

The remarks by the Central Bureau of Investigation chief have caused outrage across India, which has been hit by widespread protests in the past year following the fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a bus in New Delhi.

Women’s groups have been quick to call for Mr Sinha’s resignation, with Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat saying his comments were offensive to women everywhere.

‘It is sickening that a man who is in charge of several rape investigations should use such an analogy. He should be prosecuted for degrading and insulting women,’ she said.

Mr Sinha has since apologised and said he regretted ‘any hurt’ caused by his ‘inadvertent and unintended remarks’.

‘I reiterate my deep sense of regard and respect for women and commitment to gender issues,’ he added.

Earlier in the week, Mr Sinha claimed his comments had been taken out of context and told The Hindustan Times the criticism had been ‘malicious propaganda… hitting below the belt’.